- Have you ever wondered why we say we “cannot condone violence” instead of just saying we “don’t like” it?
- Do you know if you should use “condone” for positive actions or only for negative ones?
- Are you looking for the exact words that native speakers pair with “condone” to sound more professional and authoritative?
Mastering condone collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for a C1 or C2 level of fluency. In English, “condone” carries a specific weight; it isn’t just about liking or disliking something, but about whether an authority or society allows a wrongful act to continue. Understanding which words naturally “hug” the word “condone” will help you avoid awkward phrasing and ensure your tone is exactly right for professional or academic settings.
Common Collocations with Condone as a Verb
In modern English, “condone” functions almost exclusively as a verb. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—you must condone something. Most often, that “something” is a behavior or an action that is generally considered wrong, illegal, or unethical.
Collocations with Violence and Misconduct
Because “condone” is often used in legal, journalistic, or official contexts, it frequently pairs with nouns describing harmful actions.
- Condone violence: The government stated clearly that it does not condone violence in any form.
- Condone illegal activities: Our company policy is strict; we do not condone illegal activities.
- Condone physical abuse: There is no situation where a school should condone physical abuse.
- Condone terrorism: International leaders released a statement refusing to condone terrorism.
Collocations with Social Behavior and Attitudes
We also use “condone” when discussing social standards and acceptable behavior within a group or organization.
- Condone such behavior: “I am disappointed,” the manager said, “and I cannot condone such behavior in this office.”
- Condone discrimination: The university’s charter ensures they do not condone discrimination based on race or gender.
- Condone bullying: Modern schools have “zero tolerance” policies and will not condone bullying.
- Condone the use of: The athletic board does not condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Adverb Collocations (How it is condoned)
Adverbs help clarify the extent to which someone is allowing a negative action to happen.
- Implicitly condone: By staying silent, the supervisor seemed to implicitly condone the team’s’ dishonesty.
- Officially condone: The state does not officially condone the practice, though it still happens in secret.
- Seemingly condone: Her smile during his rude joke suggested she might seemingly condone his remarks.
- Never condone: A principled leader will never condone the mistreatment of staff.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Condone violence | Verb + Noun | To accept or allow violent acts to happen. |
| Implicitly condone | Adverb + Verb | To allow something by not speaking out against it. |
| Will not condone | Auxiliary + Verb | A strong, formal refusal to allow a specific behavior. |
| Condone the use of | Verb Phrase | To allow the consumption or utilization of something (often drugs/alcohol). |
| Condone discrimination | Verb + Noun | To permit unfair treatment of certain groups. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
One of the biggest hurdles for ESL learners is the “connotation” of condone. It is almost always used for negative things. You wouldn’t “condone” a good deed.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I condone your hard work. (Incorrect Connotation) | I appreciate or support your hard work. |
| The teacher condoned to the student. (Wrong Grammar) | The teacher condoned the student’s behavior. |
| We do not condone for stealing. (Extra Preposition) | We do not condone stealing. |
| I condone your opinion. (Weak usage) | I respect or agree with your opinion. |
“Subject: Official Statement Regarding Yesterday’s Incident
Dear Staff, management wants to make it clear that we will not condone any form of harassment within these walls. While we encourage a lively workplace, we cannot condone such behavior that makes others feel unsafe. By remaining silent, we would implicitly condone a culture of disrespect, and that is something this board will never condone.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Condone Collocations
Does “condone” mean the same thing as “approve”?
Not exactly. “Approve” means you think something is good or right. “Condone” means you might still think something is wrong, but you choose to overlook it or allow it to happen anyway. It is more about “tolerating” or “permitting” a negative act.
Can I “condone” a person?
Grammatically, you can, but it is much more common and natural to condone an action, behavior, or practice. Instead of saying “I don’t condone him,” it is better to say “I don’t condone his actions.”
What is the most common preposition to use after “condone”?
Actually, “condone” is a transitive verb, so it usually doesn’t need a preposition. You condone [something] directly. For example: “I don’t condone cheating.” You do not need “for,” “to,” or “with.”
Is “condone” used in casual, everyday conversation?
It is a bit formal. You will hear it in news reports, business meetings, or serious discussions about ethics. In a casual chat with friends, you might just say “I don’t think that’s okay” or “I don’t put up with that.”
Is there a noun form of condone?
The noun form is “condonation,” but it is very rare and used almost exclusively in legal contexts (like divorce law). For general English, stick to the verb form “condone.”
So, to ensure proper C1/C2 fluency, I should aim to use 'condone' primarily in formal or serious discussions about ethics, law, or institutional responsibility? It wouldn't fit well for everyday minor disagreements, correct?
I sometimes confuse 'condone' with 'excuse'. What's the main difference? Does 'excuse' imply more active justification, whereas 'condone' is more passive acceptance?
You're touching on a very important nuance, Sophie! You're largely correct. To 'excuse' usually means to provide a reason or justification for an action, often implying that the action was understandable or forgivable under the circumstances. To 'condone' means to tacitly or explicitly allow a wrongful act to continue without punishment or objection, essentially treating it as if it were acceptable, even if you don't necessarily 'justify' it. 'Condone' indeed often implies a more passive acceptance or turning a blind eye to wrongdoing.
Could we also use 'condone' with abstract nouns, like 'condone negligence' or 'condone unfairness'? Or is it usually tied to more concrete actions?
That's an insightful question, Ben! Yes, 'condone' can absolutely be used with abstract nouns that represent wrongful actions or states. 'Condone negligence' is a perfect example and quite common, especially in legal or official contexts. 'Condone unfairness' is also grammatically correct and conveys the appropriate meaning. The key is that the abstract noun still refers to something generally considered wrong or unacceptable.
This article really highlights the 'weight' of the word 'condone'. It's not a light word to use. I feel much more confident about when to apply it in a C1/C2 context now. Thank you for this!
I'm a native Spanish speaker, and we have 'condonar' which often means to pardon a debt or sentence, which is quite different from the English usage here! It's important to remember these false friends. Thank you for the clarity!
Thank you for sharing that valuable insight, Juan Pablo! 'False friends' like 'condone' and 'condonar' can indeed be tricky for learners. Your example perfectly illustrates why understanding the precise nuances and collocations in English is so crucial for fluency and avoiding miscommunication. Keep up the excellent work of noticing these differences!
This is a fantastic resource for high-level learners. Do you have any exercises or quizzes where we can practice identifying correct collocations with 'condone'? It would be very helpful!
We're thrilled you found it useful, Isabella! We are always developing new exercises and quizzes for our readers. Keep an eye on the blog – we often link to practice materials at the end of relevant articles, and your suggestion is a great one we'll certainly take into consideration for future content!
So, if a teacher ignores a student cheating, the teacher is 'condoning' the cheating, right? Even if they don't say anything, their inaction implies condonation?
How does 'condone' compare to 'overlook' or 'excuse'? They seem to have some overlap, but I feel 'condone' has a stronger, more serious implication of implicit approval.
You've hit on an excellent point, Lena! While 'overlook' can mean to fail to notice or ignore, and 'excuse' implies finding a reason for something, 'condone' goes a step further. It means to implicitly or explicitly allow a wrongful act to continue, often with a sense of turning a blind eye or giving tacit approval, even if you don't actively participate. It definitely carries a stronger sense of moral or official responsibility.
Just wanted to say thanks! This article cleared up a long-standing point of confusion for me. I can now use 'condone' with much more confidence in my writing.
I find this fascinating because in some cultures, there's a strong emphasis on not directly 'condoning' bad behavior, even if it's tolerated socially. The English word seems to capture that specific tension very well. Are there any other specific actions, besides violence and misconduct, that are very commonly 'condoned' or 'not condoned'?
That's an insightful observation, Priya! The cultural aspect of 'condoning' is indeed interesting. Beyond violence and misconduct, 'condone' is often paired with terms like 'harassment,' 'bullying,' 'corruption,' 'cheating,' 'discrimination,' 'unethical practices,' or 'abuse.' The common thread is always a negative, wrongful, or morally dubious action.